…Cites Voting Strength, Historical Imbalance in Ifo/Ewekoro Constituency
Daud Olatunji
The Ifo Progressive Indigenes Forum has called on the All Progressives Congress to zone its House of Representatives ticket for the Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency to Ifo Local Government Area ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group, in a statement issued in Abeokuta on Thursday, warned that the current pattern of representation in the constituency had remained “lopsided” in favour of Ewekoro Local Government Area since 1999.
The statement was jointly signed by the forum’s Chairman, Abdul Oladosu, and Secretary, Kehinde Egbeyemi.
The group said the debate ahead of the 2027 elections should focus on fairness and equity rather than individual ambitions.
According to the forum, the release of the 2027 election timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission has reopened what it described as a fundamental moral question about equitable political representation in the constituency.
“There are defining seasons in the life of a democracy when the question before a people is not simply who will contest, but whether justice will preside,” the statement partly read.
The forum argued that sustainable democracy is anchored not only on periodic elections but also on fairness and inclusiveness, stressing that political offices in a constituency shared by two local governments should rotate.
IPIF noted that calls for zoning the ticket to Ifo had been consistently raised by party members since the last election cycle and were gaining renewed support among new entrants into the party.
To justify its position, the group cited electoral statistics from recent polls, saying the figures reflected Ifo’s strong voting strength within the constituency.
According to the forum, Ifo Local Government delivered 20,653 votes for the APC in the last governorship election, while Ewekoro recorded 20,415 accredited voters and 8,192 votes.
It added that in the 2023 presidential election, Ifo produced 26,507 votes compared to Ewekoro’s 9,778 votes.
“And in the arithmetic of Ifo/Ewekoro, the numbers speak with unmistakable clarity,” the forum stated.
The group also highlighted what it described as “structural realities,” noting that Ifo has 448 polling units across 11 wards, compared to Ewekoro’s 188 polling units across 10 wards.
“Where strength is structural and sacrifice demonstrable, acknowledgment should not be negotiable,” it said.
The forum further argued that representation in the constituency had historically favoured Ewekoro.
It noted that former lawmaker, Bamidele Obadina, and the incumbent representative, Ibrahim Isiaka, both from Ewekoro, had collectively occupied the seat for more than two decades.
By contrast, it said Ifo had produced only two representatives since 1999 — Abayomi Collins, who served from 1999 to 2007, and Adekunle Adeyemi, who represented the constituency from 2011 to 2015.
“In nearly three decades, Ifo has produced representatives for about 12 years, while Ewekoro has held the seat for over 16 years. This is not a sentimental grievance; it is a measurable imbalance,” the group stated.
It warned that failure to address the imbalance could weaken party unity and undermine the principle of equitable reward for loyalty and electoral contributions.
While acknowledging the efforts of the incumbent lawmaker, the forum insisted that political inclusion required creating opportunities for other parts of the constituency.
“A twin constituency cannot function as a genuine democratic partnership if one half perpetually carries electoral weight while the other retains uninterrupted advantage,” the group added.
The forum therefore urged the APC leadership to ensure that the party’s ticket for the House of Representatives in 2027 is zoned to Ifo Local Government.
Meanwhile, the group commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what it described as his commitment to inclusive governance through the Renewed Hope agenda.
It also praised the administration of Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, for infrastructural development across Ifo and neighbouring communities.
The forum listed several road projects executed by the state government, including the Akute–Ajuwon–Alagbole Road, Alhaji Kosoko Road linking Denro, Ishasi and Akute, Segun Osoba Road, Toyin Street, Yakoyo–Alagbole Road, the Hercules–Oke Aro–Giwa corridor, and the Vespa–Olose Titun–Ikorota Meje Road.
‘
‘Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
Leave a comment